Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton gestures to his team during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

EL SEGUNDO — Even as the Lakers have started out the season with a 14-9 record led by the most famous basketball player in the world, the conversation always seems to shift forward.

Who is coming next summer?

It’s a question the Lakers front office has entertained as well, by clearing cap space for another max contract salary alongside LeBron James and talking (and sometimes drawing fines) about pursuing such a star.

While eyes have increasingly shifted to the summer of 2019 and what it could bring, Coach Luke Walton thinks the elements of a championship team are already in the locker room. When asked Wednesday morning if his current roster has the potential to someday win a championship, Walton didn’t pause before saying “absolutely.”

“This group, if we continue to grow together and go through what teams go through,” he said, “and our young players continue to get better at the rate they have in their short NBA careers, absolutely.”

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Walton has been bullish about his young core, generally agreed upon as Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart. After James, they’re the next four leaders in minutes played for the Lakers this season, and they’re four of the team’s top six scorers.

As the Lakers look to get back to championship-level play, all four have frequently been mentioned as potential trade chips in landing more established players. Walton said he’s “a big fan” of all of his current players, and tries to coach as if the roster he has now will be the roster for the conceivable future. Even though media coverage can sometimes be distracting to that end, he hopes they do, too.

“Do they read? I’m sure they do. Since we’ve been here every single year, there’s articles and media talking about who’s going to be traded, who’s not going to be traded,” Walton said. “Sadly, they’re probably used to it already even though a couple of them have only been at it for a year or two. But that’s the world we live in and it’s something we talk about. We have to believe in each other and trust each other and not let outside influences get in the way of what we want to do.”

Walton also talked at Lakers shootaround about a Bleacher Report story that quoted several NBA stars, including Kevin Durant, who publicly questioned why another established star would want to play with James. The reasons given: James is ball-dominant, and his teammates are subject to more criticism by fans and media than average players.

But citing James’ track record, which includes three championships across eight consecutive visits to the NBA Finals, Walton flipped the question around.

“What I’ve known about being around him for these few months is he’s an incredible teammate,” Walton said. “He’s very unselfish. He’s won multiple championships with other superstars. … Again, I haven’t read the article so I can’t comment on that, but what you’re asking me. To me, the question is, why would you not want to play with LeBron? He’s a winner and he’s an incredible player and he’s unselfish.”

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who had the task of coaching against James on Wednesday night also chimed in – in his own way.

“The only thing I would say is LeBron seems to have a positive influence,” he said curtly, “whatever team he plays on.”

LeBron James declines to comment on the Bleacher Report story or KD’s comments about it. Doesn’t want to make a statement without full context of the questioning and quote. pic.twitter.com/Jb7ilj7mud

SPURS HAPPY WITH USC PRODUCT METU

Headed into Wednesday night, Chimezie Metu had only logged 85 minutes of official game time. But the Spurs have seen how much time the former USC standout has been willing to commit first-hand.

As Metu worked with resistance bands down the hallway, Popovich lauded his work ethic.

“This is a good example. This is what he does,” he said. “He’s working like crazy. Before games, after games. He’s the first guy off the bench if we do something good in a game. Great teammate.”

After three years as a springy standout forward for the Trojans, Metu was the 49th overall pick in the draft this summer. While it’s a steep upward climb for second-round picks to make it in the league. Popovich said Metu has gotten off to the right start.

“Working on his game all the time, whether on this type of thing, or development-type things,” he said. “But always there first and last every practice.”

Kyle Goon covers the Lakers for the Southern California News Group. Before taking his talents to Los Angeles, he worked for The Salt Lake Tribune for eight years, covering everything from high school rodeo to the Utah Jazz. Gregg Popovich once baptized him by fire in a media scrum.